A 5th C AD monastery, the largest in the Judean
desert. The walled complex is built on the southern cliffs of the Kidron creek. It
was established by Saint Sabas, and named after him. The monastery started
as a place of seclusion of few monks in the caves, led by Mar Saba.

Overview:

A
5th C AD monastery, the largest in the Judean desert. The complex is built
on the southern cliffs of the Kidron creek, and is protected inside
a walled area with dozens of structures. It was
established by Saint Sabas (Arabic: Mar Saba), and named after him. The
monastery started as a place of seclusion of few monks in the caves,
led by Sabas. Over the years it was built, expanded, and
fortified. During the peak times it housed about 500 monks.

Location and Aerial map:

The site is
located 10KM east of Bethlehem, near the desert road to
Jerusalem. It is 250M above sea level, hanging over a steep cliff above the
Kidron creek. The Kidron starts from the valley between the temple mount and
Mount of olives in Jerusalem, and flows eastwards to the Dead sea.

The monastery is
located on crossroads: up the creek towards Jerusalem, south-west to Bethlehem
(10KM), and east towards Nebi-Musa (19KM) through the
Horkania
fortress.

An aerial photo of
the area around the monastery is seen below.

History of the place:

Sabas - Founding father

Sabas was born in Mutalaska, Cappadocia, in 439AD.
He was grown in the Coenobium of Cappadocia for 10 years, then
at the age of 18 he came to Jerusalem. He moved to the Judean
desert and stayed in the Coenobium of Euthymius for 12 years. At the
age of 30 he was granted the permission to live in seclusion, and
wandered for 5 years in the desert. Sabas
lived about 10 years in a cave near the future location of the
monastery. He found this remote site
in Kidron creek, with its local spring, a perfect place for the seclusion.
Sabas established, at the age of 45, a Laura in Mar Saba (483AD) - a cluster of caves or cells of hermits residing around
the
central monastery.

Sabas directed the Great Laura of Mar Saba for nearly 50 years.
During the years the place was expanded in order to accommodate the
hundreds of monks who resided here, and walls were constructed in
order to provide protection.

Sabas helped to establish more monasteries in the desert: He and his
monks established during this time a total of 13 (!) monasteries in
the Judean desert - 7 Lauras and 6 Coenobiums. Several older
monasteries came under his management - including the famous
Monasteries of Euthemius and Theoktistus. In his times the number of
hermits grew from hundreds to thousands. The author of the "Life of
Sabbas", Kyrillos of Skythopolis, summarized his lifetime mission as
"converted the desert to a city".

His
influence reshaped the customs and living habits of the monks. He
was the first among the desert hermit fathers who formulated a set
of written rules for the conduct and way of life for the desert
monks in the Judean desert.

After Sabas

After
his death in 532 at the age of 93, Sabas was buried in the yard of
the monastery. By now, the Monastery was a small center for monks.
This formed a Laura (Lavra) - a term in Orthodox Christianity
meaning a cluster of caves or cells of hermits residing around a
central monastery.

During the years the place was expanded in order to accommodate the
hundreds of monks who resided here, and walls were constructed in
order to provide protection.

During the Persian invasion (614AD) the monastery was damaged, and
restored in 629. After being robbed in 796 its was further fortified
in the 9th C AD.

The Crusaders
expanded the fortifications in the 12C. When the Crusaders
left the Holy Land they transferred Saba's bones to Venice, which
were returned here only in 1965.

During
the Turkish rule the monastery was raided several times by the local
Bedouins. It was also damaged in a 19th C earthquake, but was
restored in 1840 by the Russians.

Photos:

(a) General view

View of the monastery, as seen from the
north-east. The Kidron creek flows through the Judean desert, from Jerusalem
(located upstream in the back of this position) towards the Dead Sea (located
downstream to the left of the photo).

Click on the photos to view in higher
resolution...

A closer view of the center of the monastery
is shown below, with its
high defense walls and two towers. The Kidron valley passes below the
monastery on its way to the Dead Sea (downstream on the left side).

(b) Views of the monastery

The following photos show
details of the monastery complex, as viewed from the eastern side.

A view of the central side of the
monastery is below. On the right is the dome of the church. The
golden cap in the center was the original grave of Sabas.

A view of the lower northern side of the
monastery:

At the bottom of the monastery is the
spring, which attracted Sabas to the site before the monastery was established.

The southern tower, also
called the Women's tower, since they were excluded from other sections of the
monastery:

The northern tower:

(c) Inside the yard of the monastery

All interior photos below by Shay Shtickgold - we thank Shay for his
contribution of the wonderful photos.

This is a closer view of the Monastery, inside the
complex, as seen from the upper balcony. Women are forbidden to enter the
complex, and can access only one of the exterior towers, built according to
tradition by Saba's mother (who was also forbidden to enter the holy grounds).

Some of the structure is built into the cliff. This is the west side of the walled
complex. The structure seems to hang on the cliffs, and is embedded into it.

(d) Tomb inside the yard

Inside the yard is an hexagon shaped dome. It is the
original grave of Sabas, but his bones were removed in the 12th C, returned
in 1965, and are now on display in the main church hall.

The ceiling of the dome is decorated inside with
these colorful paintings.

Under the white roof, seen on the floor
around the dome, is a room where the monks are buried.

Inside the tomb, a painting of
the deceased Sabas, with the monks gathered around and paying respect to the
founder and leader.

(e) The Main Church

The interior of the main church is seen below,
the most beautiful hall in the monastery. The floor is shining clean,
and is polished with kerosene. On the right side, behind a glass closet, are
the bones of the founder. Mar Saba, dressed with garments,
continues to watch and dominate the daily life of the monastery.

The hall is dark, and is lit by the
natural light that filters in from above. The entire setting of this hall
casts a sense of holiness, and is a special experience, rewarding the
long journey to the site.

(f) Greek-Orthodox Art

The Greek-Orthodox art
and paintings inside the monastery provide a special atmosphere, as
most of the Greek-orthodox churches in the Holy Land. You can't miss
the sensations radiated in these rooms.

This painted ceiling (right photo) and wall (photo below) is in the
entrance to the main prayer hall.

In the monastery there is
a collection of
many rare icons, books and paintings. Some of these treasures have been
relocated to Jerusalem in order to provide them a better protection. The
ancient paintings below are displayed in the holiest room.

A view of the
guest room where the visitors are greeted with traditional drink and
food.

(g) Cave of Sabas

The cave of Sabas, marked by a cross,
is on the facing wall of the creek. It is seen here from the main balcony. According to the
tradition, Sabas secluded here for 5 years. Around it are more caves,
where his assistants lived while building the monastery.

(h) Kidron Valley Hermits

There are dozens of hermit caves along
the Kidron valley, close to the monastery. The photo below is a view towards
the north-west side of the monastery.

Mar Saba used to host hundreds of hermits
during the middle ages. Therefore, the hermits preferred to stay alone
in their private corners most of the time, and gather in the monastery only on
weekly basis or special occasions.

The following picture shows a closer view of one of
the larger structures on the western side of the valley.